Mississippi State
Alabama
Bulldog Netmen Fall 6-1 At #23 Alabama
March 15, 2009 | Men's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Mississippi State men's tennis team (5-5, 1-3 SEC) fell short Sunday against 23rd-ranked Alabama (12-2, 3-1 SEC) in its attempt for their second consecutive road upset. After beating 20th-ranked Auburn on Friday, State fell behind early against the Tide and never recovered.
Alabama grabbed the opening doubles point, winning on all three courts. In the first completed match, UA's 27th-ranked tandem of Saketh Myneni and Billy Mertz topped State's pair of Artem Ilyushin and Louis Cant 8-4. The Tide would then clinch the point as Mathieu Thibaudeau and Dan Buikema outlasted MSU's Tanner Stump and Chris Doerr 8-6 on court #1. On court #3, Bulldogs Ryan Farlow and Antonio Lastre fell against UA's Ricky Doverspike and Andrew Felsenthal 8-4.
Alabama would quickly expand its lead at the beginning of singles play. UA expanded its lead to 2-0 as 66th-ranked Myneni defeated State's 118th-ranked Farlow 6-2, 6-2. On court #3, UA moved to a 3-0 lead as Michael Thompson topped MSU's Lastre 6-3, 6-1. Lastre was playing at the #3 position in the place of injured freshman Daniel Sanchez.
Despite falling behind, State would battle close in the final four matches on court. Battling down to the wire on court #5, Chris Doerr fell just short, 7-6, 7-6 as UA's Buikema won the clinching point for the Tide. After winning the first set 7-5 on court #6, MSU's Stump would be overcome 6-0, 6-4 in the final two sets by Michael Jung. Alabama would win another nailbiting match on court #2 as UA's 114th-ranked Thibaudeau rallied past Illyushin 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 to give Alabama a 6-0 lead. In the final match on, State's Cant won in a close three-set match 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 to give State the final point of the match.
The Bulldogs will continue play this Thursday, March 19 as they travel to Montgomery, Ala., to compete in the Blue/Gray Classic.
#23 ALABAMA 6, #75 MISSISSIPPI STATE 1
TUSCALOOSA, ALA. ? 3/15/09
DOUBLES - #1-Mathieu Thibaudeau/Dan Buikema (UA) def. Tanner Stump/Chris Doerr 8-6; #2-#27 Saketh Myneni/Billy Mertz (UA) def. Artem Ilyushin/Louis Cant (MSU) 8-4; #3-Ricky Doverspike/Andrew Felsenthal (UA) def. Ryan Farlow/Antonio Lastre (MSU) 8-4
SINGLES - #1-#66 Myneni (UA) def. #118 Farlow (MSU) 6-2, 6-2; #2-#114 Thibaudeau (MSU) def. Ilyushin (MSU) 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 ; #3-Michael Thompson (UA) def. Lastre (MSU) 6-3, 6-1; #4-Cant (MSU) def. Mertz (UA) 7-6, 3-6, 7-5; #5-Buikema (UA) def. Doerr (MSU) 7-6, 7-6; #6-Michael Jung (UA) def. Stump (MSU) 5-7, 6-0, 6-4.
Players Mentioned
